The road to Oklahoma City narrows to a two-lane showdown this weekend as the No. 2 overall seed Oklahoma Sooners (48-7) welcome the No. 15 seed Alabama Crimson Tide (40-21) to Love’s Field for a best-of-three Super Regional beginning Friday, May 23 at 4 p.m. CT. With a Women’s College World Series berth hanging in the balance, two of college softball’s premier programs are set for a high-stakes rematch with a long and storied postseason history.
Super Regional Schedule (CT):
- Game 1: Friday, May 23 | 4 p.m. | ESPN2
- Game 2: Saturday, May 24 | 2 p.m. | ESPN
- Game 3: Sunday, May 25 | TBD (if necessary)
Radio broadcasts will be available on The Franchise 2 (1560 AM, 103.3 FM), and live stats can be found at StatBroadcast.com.
Familiar Foes, New Setting
This will be the 22nd all-time meeting between Oklahoma and Alabama, but the first in Norman. Thirteen of their 21 previous matchups have come in the postseason, including 10 games in Oklahoma City. The last time these two teams met in the Super Regionals was in 2015, when Alabama hosted the series in Tuscaloosa. The overall series is split, with OU holding a 6-6 record against Alabama in NCAA Tournament play. Now, under the Norman sun and on their home turf, the Sooners will try to push the series edge in their favor—and punch their ninth straight ticket to Oklahoma City.
Championship DNA Meets Seasoned Dominance
Under the direction of Hall of Fame head coach Patty Gasso, Oklahoma’s postseason numbers speak volumes. The Sooners are 246-70 in May across Gasso’s 31 seasons, including a staggering 92-8 in their eight national championship seasons. Oklahoma enters the Super Regionals riding a five-game winning streak, boasting 22 run-rule victories, and a perfect 41-0 mark when scoring six or more runs.
This isn’t just a program that thrives in the postseason—it defines it.
Dynamic Arms: The Pitching Powerhouse
Sam Landry and Isabella Smith are the veteran anchors of OU’s elite pitching staff. Landry (22-4), named the SEC’s Newcomer of the Year and a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 25 finalist, brings unmatched consistency and competitiveness. She leads all active Division I pitchers with 85 career wins and ranks in the top 10 nationally in appearances (149). Her fielding prowess also stands out; Landry leads all SEC pitchers with 49 assists, a testament to her athleticism and presence in the circle.
Landry was lights out during Regionals, earning the win in all three games and delivering a total of nine innings of scoreless work. Not to be outdone, freshman sensation Audrey Lowry has been untouchable in recent outings, having strung together four straight scoreless appearances and retiring the last 15 batters she’s faced. Her postseason poise, showcased in the SEC Tournament win over Arkansas, adds valuable depth.
Together with Smith (79 career wins), the Sooners possess one of the most experienced and dominant pitching staffs in the nation.
Fireworks on Offense: Pickering, Garcia, and Co.
There may not be a more balanced and dangerous lineup in college softball. Oklahoma has homered in 45 of 55 games this season, racking up 110 long balls—the sixth straight season with at least 100 team home runs. Thirteen Sooners have hit multiple home runs this year, and six have reached double digits.
Freshman phenom Gabbie Garcia leads the charge with 18 home runs, tied for sixth nationally among freshmen. Her power is matched by her performance in clutch moments; she’s homered in five straight games earlier this year, a feat no OU freshman had done since Jocelyn Alo.
Kasidi Pickering, meanwhile, has been red-hot. She hit three home runs and drove in nine runs during Regionals, including a grand slam and a two-homer game. She’s batting .476 in her NCAA Tournament career with nine home runs and 22 RBIs in just 17 games.
Ella Parker has also caught fire at the right time. The sophomore has homered six times in the past 10 games, hitting safely in 13 of the last 15 contests.
With contributions from across the board—veterans like Cydney Sanders (56 career homers) and freshmen like Nelly McEnroe-Marinas (14 HRs, 11 in SEC play)—this is a lineup that puts relentless pressure on opposing pitchers.
Alabama’s Grit Cannot Be Underestimated
While Oklahoma has more firepower on paper, Alabama comes in tested and tenacious. The Crimson Tide posted back-to-back-to-back wins to claim their Regional and have faced a gauntlet of top-tier opponents this season. Coach Patrick Murphy’s teams are historically well-prepared for the postseason, and Alabama brings a no-fear attitude into Norman.
The key for Alabama will be keeping Oklahoma’s lineup in the park and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Any stumble—especially early—could be fatal against a team that thrives on momentum and explosive innings.
Intangibles and X-Factors
- Experience: OU’s active leaders have compiled over 1,300 combined games of collegiate experience. That veteran presence has proven invaluable in postseason situations.
- Comeback Mentality: Oklahoma has 17 come-from-behind wins this year, including a historic comeback against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament semifinals. No lead is safe when the Sooners are in the dugout.
- Home Field Advantage: Love’s Field has become a fortress. During their sweep of Texas, the Sooners set records for single-game and series attendance, with over 13,700 fans showing up across three days. The environment should be electric.
Prediction
If history is any indicator and current form holds, Oklahoma will have the edge in this series. Their blend of veteran pitching, deep lineup, postseason pedigree, and home-field advantage sets them apart. But Alabama won’t back down, and with their own battle-tested roster, the Tide will look to drag the Sooners into a slugfest.
Expect Oklahoma to win the series—likely in two—but not without some tense moments. Should it go to a Game 3, the Sooners’ depth in the circle and their never-say-die attitude may once again prove the difference.
Projected Series Outcome: Oklahoma wins 2-0
MVP Prediction: Kasidi Pickering (3 HR, 6 RBI in the series)
X-Factor: Audrey Lowry’s ability to change tempo out of the bullpen
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